About Richard Wayne "Dick" Van Dyke

Richard Wayne "Dick" Van Dyke (born December 13, 1925) is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer with a career spanning six decades. Van Dyke starred in the films Bye Bye Birdie, Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and in the TV series The Dick Van Dyke Show and Diagnosis: Murder.

Van Dyke was born in West Plains, Missouri, to Hazel Van Dyke (née McCord) and Loren Wayne "Cookie" Van Dyke, and grew up in Danville, Illinois. He is the older brother of actor Jerry Van Dyke, who is best known for his role on the TV series Coach. He is of Dutch descent on his father's side; his mother was a descendant of Mayflower passenger Peter Browne from England.

Van Dyke and Margerie Willett were married on the radio show Bride and Groom in 1948. The two had four children, Christian (Chris), Barry, Carrie Beth, and Stacy. They divorced in 1984 after a long separation.